(414) 226-5619

16920 W Cleveland Ave. New Berlin, WI 53151

(414) 226-5619

16920 W Cleveland Ave. New Berlin, WI 53151

(414) 226-5619

Air Sealing & Insulation

As seen in the Milwaukee Area

Properly Insulating Your Home Will Not Only Help Reduce your Heating and Cooling Costs but Also Make your Home More Comfortable

The R-Value of Insulation:

Recommended Levels of Insulation

An R-value indicates an insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.

The R-value depends on the type of insulation and includes its material, thickness, and density. When calculating the R-value of a multilayered installation, add the R-values of the individual layers. Installing more insulation in your home increases the R-value and the resistance to heat flow.

The effectiveness of an insulation’s resistance to heat flow also depends on how and where the insulation is installed. For example, insulation that is compressed will not provide its full rated R-value. The overall R-value of a wall or ceiling will be somewhat different from the R-value of the insulation itself because some heat flows around the insulation through the studs and joists. Therefore, it’s important to properly install your insulation to achieve the maximum R-value.

The amount of insulation or R-value you’ll need depends on your climate, type of heating and cooling system, and the section of the house you plan to insulate.

Recommended Levels of Insulation

Recommended Insulation Levels for Retrofitting Existing Wood-Framed Buildings

Insulation level are specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-Value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost-effective for different climates and locations in the home.

Where to Insulate

Adding insulation in the areas shown here may be the best way to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Insulation

First, check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-values – the higher the R-value, the better your walls and roofs will resist the transfer of heat.

Improving your Home Envelope

The exterior of your home is called the “envelope” or “shell”. The envelope is made up of the outer walls, ceiling, windows & floor. By proper Air Sealing & insulating you can improve your “envelope” and make your home more comfortable and help lower your energy bills.

Hidden Air Leaks and Lack of Proper Insulation

Air leaks can make your home uncomfortable. In the winter, drafty windows, doors, cold walls or ceilings & ice build-up or ice dams on the roof are all symptoms of air leaks or poor insulation in attic. In the summer, ceilings that are hot to the touch & upstairs rooms that are uncomfortably hot, no matter how the A/C is set , can also be a sign of air leaks & insufficient insulation. Fixing air leaks can make your home more comfortable & help you get full performance from your insulation and your heating & cooling system.

*If you add up all the hidden air leaks in your home they can equal a hole the size of an open window.

There are many ways to fix air leaks, such as Caulking using spray foam and weather stupping for closing smaller cracks and gaps. Plywood/drywall & rigid foam insulation may be used for plugging larger holes. Sheet metal and High Temperature Caulking can be used to close gaps around chimney and furnace flues. Call us and let us help reduce your air infiltration issues.